भारतीय इतिहास के ६ स्वर्णिम पृष्ठ (वीर सावरकर - विदेशी आक्रान्ताओं पर विजय गाथा)
भारतीय इतिहास के ६ स्वर्णिम पृष्ठ (वीर सावरकर - विदेशी आक्रान्ताओं पर विजय गाथा)
Six Glorious Epochs of Indian History by Veer Savarkar
स्वातंत्र्यवीर विनायक दामोदर सावरकर द्वारा
DevanagariHindipublished494 पृष्ठ
पृष्ठ 29, कुल 494 में से
संदर्भ में पढ़ेंपृष्ठ 29
- We generally believe that this magnificent and awe-inspiring tradition
of ‘johar’ or self-immolation of large groups of men and women in times of
national crisis was originally practised by the Rajputs only. But instances
like the one just mentioned, cited by the Greek writers who were astounded
to witness them, go to prove that even before the name of the Rajputs was
ever heard of, this splendid tradition was followed by our Indian warriors
right from the ancient days. The word ‘johar’ is comparatively modern. It
was perhaps derived from the war cry ‘Jai Har’! The Indian God of war and
destruction is Har, Har, Mahadev! That is why, the Indians fought
desperately, inspired by this deafening war cry! The Marathas too used the
same war cry ‘Har, Har, Mahadev!’ After fighting to the last, when every
hope of success was over, or every chance of escape from the enemy was
lost, this johar, this martyrdom, this noblest type of self-sacrifice was
resorted to by the Hindus as the last unfailing weapon to save their religion,
their nation, their own self-respect and to avoid captivity, abject slavery and
hateful conversion! As soon as all men of fighting age were slain on the
battlefield after taking the greatest toll of the enemy blood, their wives,
mothers, daughters, hundreds of them, with babies at their breasts, used to
leap into the burning pyres, specially kept ready for the purpose and were
reduced to ashes. This was what was known as ‘Johar’! It was not an easy
job! It was the limit of valour and endurance for the sake of keeping up the
prestige of one’s self and one’s own religion! - Whoever had donned this exceptional armour of ‘Johar’ and its
leaping flames were beyond all attempts of an Alexander, an Alla-ud-Din or
a Salim-why, even of Satan himself—to pollute them and convert them to
his religion! Confronted with this horrible sacrificial fire, the enemy stood
aghast, discomfited and crestfallen. - The above-mentioned ‘Johar’—collective immolation of lives—by the
Agrashrenis is one of the many described by the astounded Greek writers,
which the Indians preferred to the humiliation of being the captives of the
Greeks.
The Janapad Republic of Brahmanakas! - At last, when Alexander’s naval force reached the mouth of the Indus,
fighting incessantly all the way, it met with yet other independent republics.
These ‘janapadas’ or ‘Ganas’ were like the small Greek city-states, and had
none amongst them, which could ably withstand with equal numbers, the
mighty and numerous army of Alexander. Still one of them, the